VKR Seniors Tour Report
- 29 Nov-02 December 2014
Day 1 (29 Nov 2014)
The trigger. A
chance presence of Rasa/Manni, Mani/Shanta and Raja/Leela in
Coimbatore for different marriages prompted Rasa to summon me and
Lalitha from Bangalore for a family reunion (of the seniors), and a
pilgrimage. Too bad Gauri Manni couldn’t join despite our best
persuasion and incentives – a seat of her choice, full three seats
to keep her legs stretched, etc.
The visits. Palani:
As soon as Lalitha and I alighted from the train in Coimbatore at
1 pm, the rest of them were waiting for us in the Tempo Traveller
hired for the trip. Shanta had prepared hot sambar-rice and cool
curd-rice for the two of us. As we busied ourselves with the food,
Prem Nazir, the driver negotiated successfully through the busy
streets of the city to get to the highway to Palani.
On the way, as is his
wont, Rasa had whispered into the ears of Prem Nazir to stop the
vehicle the moment he sights the now famous Kumbakonam Degree Filter
Coffee outlet. And he did it promptly. We had steaming coffee, with
the overhanging cloud and drizzle adding a fresh impetus to each sip.
“There it is - the
Palani hills,” we heard a shout from behind, in the eureka style,
as soon as she spotted it - ahead of the others. Was it Shanta?
We checked into a
previously reserved hotel, freshened up and headed for darshan. Half
the group had opted to foot the hills and the others enjoy a cable
ride. But it was the day of the golden chariot procession. So we were
advised to hurry up in cable car and finish darshan before the
chariot crowd disintegrates us.
The hotel had a ‘man for
all seasons’ who could cut across all rules and regulations, or
policies and procedures to get you in the shortest time as close to
the lotus feet of Lord Muruga as just outside the sanctum sanctorum
where we were seated comfortably to watch the proceedings for full
seven to eight minutes before we were bundled out, to accommodate the
next batch. Of course, all this for a price.
We were all set to call it
a day. The rooms were just okay. My fan operated on an either or
basis, i.e., full blast or standstill. When I approached the
Receptionist to change the room, he said with a nonchalant shrug,
“Sorry, it is like that in all the rooms in that row; you have to
adjust, Sir.” I felt relieved. After all, others no better.
That marked Day 1. Of
course I won’t elaborate on the Sthala Puranam. Suffice it to say
that Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya were told that whoever managed to go
around the world first could stake claim to the delicious mango that
Narada had brought. Kartikeya set out on his vehicle, peacock. Lord
Ganesha circumambulated of his parents, Shiva and Parvati - that they
constituted the world, and got away with the mango. This angered
Kartikeya; he left his parents’ abode and settled down in Palani in
protest.
Day 2 to be continued
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